Aged vs live transfer vs exclusive MCA leads
By David Walker-Dobson, Founder, Tentt Finance · Updated
Aged MCA leads are cheap (cents to a few dollars) but heavily worked. Exclusive real-time leads cost $25 to $200 and go to you alone. Live transfers cost $40 to $150 or more and put a screened owner on the phone with you. The right choice depends on your team size, speed and cost per funded deal.
Key takeaways
- Aged leads suit teams with dialers and time. Live transfers suit closers with no prospecting time.
- Exclusive is only worth paying for if the vendor can show it.
- Run all three through the same test window and compare cost per funded deal.
How do the three MCA lead types compare?
| Aged | Exclusive real-time | Live transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $0.05 to $5 per record | $25 to $200 per lead | $40 to $150+ per call |
| Freshness | 30 days to a year+ | Minutes to hours | Live, right now |
| Other buyers | Many | None, if honored | None |
| Work needed | Heavy dialing and follow-up | Fast first call | Close on the call |
| Best for | Large outbound teams | Small, fast teams | Closers with no setters |
When do aged MCA leads make sense?
When you have setters, a dialer and patience. Aged records are inquiries from weeks or months ago. Many owners have since funded, gone quiet or been called by dozens of shops, so funded rates are low. The low price only pays back if your labor is cheap and your follow-up is relentless.
When are exclusive MCA leads worth it?
When you can call within minutes and the vendor can prove the lead was not resold. Ask how the lead was generated, whether it was sent anywhere else, and what the returns policy covers. A fresh exclusive lead with a fast first call usually funds far more often than a shared one.
When are live transfers worth it?
When your closers are good and you have nobody to prospect. You pay the most per contact, but the owner is screened and on the line. Check what "screened" means: revenue, time in business and bank activity questions make a transfer far more valuable than a name and a request amount.
What does each cost per funded deal?
Illustrative numbers, not benchmarks: 1,000 aged records at $2 that fund 3 deals cost about $667 per deal before labor. 40 exclusive leads at $75 that fund 4 cost $750. 25 live transfers at $125 that fund 4 cost about $781. Your own rates will differ, so test each source and plug the results into the calculator.
Is there a fourth option?
Yes: generate your own. Email every business in your buy box from your own name every 60 days and you get replies nobody else received, without paying per lead. See how Tentt Finance runs it, or read our MCA leads guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a live transfer MCA lead?
A business owner screened by an intake agent and transferred to your closer while still on the call.
How old are aged MCA leads?
Usually 30 days to over a year. Prices drop as they age.
Are exclusive MCA leads really exclusive?
Sometimes. Ask the vendor how they enforce it and test with a small order before committing.
What is an MCA lead?
A business owner who may want a merchant cash advance, sold to MCA funders, brokers or ISOs as a record, a web inquiry, a live call or a full submission with bank statements.
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